It’s not surprising that some viewers are finding similarities between Dr. Shaun Murphy–the lead character on The Good Doctor, a breakout hit of the new fall TV season–and Dr. Gregory House, the cantankerous physician on the hit series House that aired on Fox from 2004-12.
While their personalities are very different, both have one thing in common–that they’re usually (always?) right about their diagnoses and proposed treatments for their patients.
There are differences, of course. Dr. Murphy (Freddie Highmore) is a young pediatric surgeon with autism. Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) was a military brat, who spent his childhood in many different places. He’s been described as a cynic and a narcissist.
“The characters, ultimately, couldn’t be more different,” says David Shore, who created both series and serves as executive producer of The Good Doctor (the same position he held on House.)
“What I find really interesting is the characters couldn’t be more different, and yet, they’re, in a sense, asking many of the same questions. They’re asking why do we do the things we do?”
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Shore says he loved both characters, but that House asked what he did from a cynical and challenging point of view whereas Murphy asks from more of an innocent point of view.
“I think [Shaun] comes at [things] in a different way and looks at them from fresh eyes,” Shore says. “He’s talking to our viewers as much as he’s talking to the doctors. He’s talking to us, talking to me as much as he’s talking to anyone else.”
In Monday’s episode of The Good Doctor, titled “Pipes,” Dr. Melendez (Nicholas Gonzalez) and the team wade through legal waters when a husband and wife are faced with making a difficult challenge for their unborn child.
Meanwhile, Dr. Murphy struggles to adjust to his new environment at home and makes a huge step forward with his colleagues.
The Good Doctor airs Mondays from 10:01 to 11:00 p.m. on ABC.
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